1.17 Ct. Crystal/Jelly Opal from Australia

This opal began its story far below the red dust of Australia, where ancient seas once left behind silica rich gels that over millennia consolidated into the delicate, light catching structures we prize today, my hand still remembers the first moment I saw this material, a translucent crystal jelly opal whose inner life seemed to shift and breathe, a private ocean trapped in stone. Formed in quiet, patient stages of deposition and gentle pressure, this piece carries the slow geography of the outback in each flash of color, a reminder that great beauty does not hurry. The Natural Gemstone Company sources this opal with careful attention to place and practice, and you can imagine the miner at dawn lifting a sample from the matrix, the same sunlight that warmed those old sea beds revealing a promise of green and violet and blue within a pale, glassy body. It is a crystal or jelly opal by type, one that owes its jewel like play of color to internal layers of uniform silica spheres that diffract light into a dancing spectrum, and because of its translucent nature each hue appears as if it were suspended in water, a light within a light.

When the rough came to our lapidary bench the cutter saw potential in its even, circular outline, and chose a tablet cut to preserve the widest view of its color and to celebrate the opal’s delicate translucence. The finished stone weighs 1.17 carat, and measures 8.83 by 8.96 by 2.12 millimeters, a compact, wearable presence that reads larger on the eye because of the breadth of color it shows. Evaluated at eye level the clarity is very slightly included, with minor features that do not interrupt the overall experience, they exist as a quiet reminder of natural origin rather than a defect. The color intensity sits at medium intense, a beautiful balance where the greens and blues and flashes of violet emerge clearly without overwhelming the softer ground colors, a harmony that suits both minimal, modern settings and antique inspired mounts. The polish is excellent, a mirror like surface that both protects and magnifies the internal spectacle, and importantly this opal has no enhancement, it is as the earth made it, untreated and honest.

Bringing a stone like this into jewelry requires both artistry and practicality, and so the tablet cut offers a wide, even face for design while maintaining a low profile that is comfortable for everyday wear when appropriately protected. I often suggest a bezel setting to cradle the thin edge of a tablet opal, the metal lip both secures the gem and shields its perimeter from knocks, a halo of fine diamonds or a brushed silver surround will catch light around the opal and amplify its play of color, while a pendant setting allows the gem to rotate gently and reveal new flashes as you move. Because opal responds to sudden temperature changes and to harsh chemical exposure, simple precautions will preserve its beauty for generations, avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaning, keep it away from strong detergents and solvents, and store it wrapped in soft cloth separate from harder stones. The Natural Gemstone Company recommends occasional gentle cleaning with a soft, damp cloth and secure, professional mounting so that the stone sits comfortably against the skin and remains a wearable talisman rather than a fragile curiosity.

Owning this opal is to own a fragment of a landscape and a moment of geological time, a piece that connects wearers to both the science of light and the lore of place, and we at The Natural Gemstone Company are proud to present it in its full, natural state. Think of it as a companion for moments when you wish to carry a private aurora with you, a talisman that reflects different emotions with different lighting, serene and marine one minute, electric and mysterious the next. If you would like guidance on mounting options, or wish to see how this 1.17 carat tablet cut crystal jelly opal will pair with particular metals or design ideas, I am here to help you plan a setting that honors its clarity of very slightly included grade, its medium intense color intensity, its dimensions of 8.83 by 8.96 by 2.12 millimeters, its excellent polish, and its pure Australian origin with no enhancement. This is more than a gem, it is a story you can wear, and we would be honored to help you write the next chapter.